Detachable adjustable hopper for use with a portable grain auger

ABSTRACT

An adjustable hopper including a base structure is designed for being mounted to an intake of a conveying mechanism for conveying particulates. A bottom portion of a flexible hopper structure is mounted to the base structure. A top structure is mounted to a top portion of the flexible hopper structure. An adjusting mechanism is connected to the base structure and the top structure. The adjusting mechanism enables moving the top structure from a transport position, with the top structure being disposed in proximity to the base structure, to a loading position, with at least a substantial portion of the top structure being disposed at a predetermined distance to the base structure.

This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No.2,768,953 filed on Feb. 22, 2012, and Canadian Patent Application No.2,772,342 filed on Mar. 23, 2012. The entire contents of both of theseapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to conveying of particulate material, andmore particularly to a detachable adjustable hopper for being mounted toan intake of a portable conveyor.

BACKGROUND

In modern agriculture harvest grain such as, for example, wheat, rye,barley, canola and soybeans, is transported in hopper grain trailerswith the hopper forming an unloading outlet for releasing the loaddisposed on the underside of the trailer for fast and simple unloading.Typically, an intake of a portable conveyer such as a top drive portableauger is disposed in a bucket-shaped non-adjustable hopper and movedunder the unloading outlet for receiving the grain and conveying thesame to a remote location. Alternatively, the portable grain auger isfitted with a non-adjustable hopper.

With the unloading outlet being disposed in close proximity to ground itis difficult to move the intake with the non-adjustable hopper under theunloading outlet. In some instances, a swing-away hopper for receivingthe grain and conveying the same to the portable auger intake isemployed in order to facilitate positioning under the unloading outlet.Typically, the swing-away hopper has an auger and drive mechanism forconveying the grain, thus forming a rather complex mechanism for feedingthe grain from the unloading outlet to the portable auger intake.

Unfortunately, the non-adjustable hopper, as well as the swing-awayhopper, does not provide a close fit between the hopper and theunloading outlet, resulting in grain being thrown out of the hopper bythe rotating auger.

It is desirable to provide an adjustable hopper that provides asubstantially close fit between the hopper and the unloading outlet.

It is also desirable to provide an adjustable hopper that is detachableinstalled to an intake of a portable grain auger.

It is also desirable to provide an adjustable hopper that is simple andeasy to install to an intake of a portable grain auger.

It is also desirable to provide an adjustable hopper that is easilymoved under the unloading outlet.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide anadjustable hopper that provides a substantially close fit between thehopper and the unloading outlet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablehopper that is detachable installed to an intake of a portable grainauger.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablehopper that is simple and easy to install to an intake of a portablegrain auger.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablehopper that is easily moved under the unloading outlet.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided anadjustable hopper. A base structure is designed for being mounted to anintake of a conveying mechanism for conveying particulates. A bottomportion of a flexible hopper structure is mounted to the base structure.A top structure is mounted to a top portion of the flexible hopperstructure. An adjusting mechanism is connected to the base structure andthe top structure. The adjusting mechanism enables moving the topstructure from a transport position, with the top structure beingdisposed in proximity to the base structure, to a loading position, withat least a substantial portion of the top structure being disposed at apredetermined distance to the base structure.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided anadjustable hopper. A base structure is designed for being mounted to anintake of a conveying mechanism for conveying particulates. A bottomportion of a hopper structure made of a flexible material is mounted tothe base structure. A top structure is mounted to a top portion of theflexible hopper structure. An adjusting mechanism is connected to thebase structure and the top structure. The adjusting mechanism enablesmoving the top structure from a transport position, with the topstructure being disposed in proximity to the base structure, to aloading position, with at least a substantial portion of the topstructure being disposed at a predetermined distance to the basestructure. The adjusting mechanism enables pivotal movement andlongitudinal movement of the top structure.

One advantage of the present invention is that it provides an adjustablehopper that provides a substantially close fit between the hopper andthe unloading outlet.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides anadjustable hopper that is detachable installed to an intake of aportable grain auger.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides anadjustable hopper that is simple and easy to install to an intake of aportable grain auger.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides anadjustable hopper that is easily moved under the unloading outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the present invention is described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a is a simplified block diagram illustrating a perspective viewof a state of the art portable grain auger for use with the adjustablehopper according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1 b is a simplified block diagram illustrating a perspective viewof an intake of the portable grain auger shown in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 c is a simplified block diagram illustrating attachment anddetachment of the adjustable hopper according to one embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are simplified block diagrams illustrating a side viewof the adjustable hopper according to one embodiment of the inventionwith the hopper in a collapsed and an extended position, respectively;

FIGS. 2 c to 2 e are simplified block diagrams illustrating perspectiveviews of the adjustable hopper according to one embodiment of theinvention with the hopper in an extended position;

FIGS. 2 f and 2 g are simplified block diagrams illustrating a crosssectional view of the adjustable hopper according to another embodimentof the invention with the hopper in a collapsed and an extendedposition, respectively; and,

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a cross sectional viewof a holding mechanism for use with the adjustable hopper according toan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present invention, certain methods andmaterials are now described.

While the description of the embodiments herein below is with referenceto an adjustable hopper for use with a portable grain auger, it willbecome evident to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto, but are also applicable for othertypes of conveyors such as, for example, belt conveyors and other typesof particulate materials.

Referring to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, a conventional portable grain auger 10is shown. Typically, auger 26 is disposed in tubular auger housing 12and extends a predetermined distance therefrom into intake 16. The augerhousing 12 is adjustable mounted to chassis 14 such that a height ofdischarge housing 24 above ground is variable. The auger 26 is driven bya gas engine 18 via drive mechanism 20 and gear 22. The intake 16comprises shielding 28 mounted to the auger housing 12 and having augerbearing 30 mounted thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1 c and 2 a to 2 e, an adjustable hopper 100according to one embodiment of the invention is provided. Base structure102 of the adjustable hopper 100 is designed for being mounted in adetachable fashion to an intake 16 of the portable grain auger 10 suchthat the shielding 28 is disposed therein. As illustrated in FIG. 1 c,the base structure 102 is moved along longitudinal axis 120 of augerhousing 12 until the shielding 28 is disposed therein and attachmentmechanism 116 is partially covering the housing 12 for detachablesecuring the adjustable hopper 100 thereto using, for example, a strapor ratchet-type tightening device accommodated in apertures of theattachment mechanism 116 disposed on opposite sides of the auger housing12. The base structure 102 can also be detachable secured to the bearinghousing 30 via mounting mechanism 126, as illustrated in FIG. 2 e. Forexample screw bolts are disposed in respective threaded bores of themounting mechanism 126 for affixing the mounting mechanism 126 to thebearing housing 30 by abutting the same. Optionally, an inside wall ofthe base structure 102 is shaped such that is provides a snug fit with aportion of the shielding 28 of the portable grain auger 10. The basestructure 102 may have a cylindrical bottom structure 102A surrounding aportion of the shielding 28 and an end portion of the auger housing 12and a box-shaped structure 102B extending substantially upwardstherefrom with an upper rim 103 surrounding a—for example, rectangularshaped-intake opening 124.

The base structure 102 is made, for example, of suitable sheet metalsuch as steel or aluminum using standard manufacturing technologies.Alternatively, the base structure 102 is made, for example, of asuitable plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or Nylon™using standard molding technologies.

A bottom portion of flexible hopper structure 122 is mounted to the rim103 of the base structure 102. The flexible hopper structure 122 can bemade of a flexible material having sufficient flexibility for adjustingthe flexible hopper structure 122 between a transport position—with theflexible hopper structure 122 being collapsed, as illustrated in FIG. 2a—to a loading position—with the flexible hopper structure 122 beingpartially or fully extended, as illustrated in FIG. 2 b.

The flexible hopper structure 122 can be made of a suitable flexiblematerial having sufficient abrasive resistance such as fabric reinforcedrubber using, for example, cotton, fiberglass, Nylon™, or Kevlar™ forthe fabric canvas and natural rubber, Silicone™, or Neoprene™ for therubber-type material.

The flexible hopper structure 122 is mounted to the rim 103 of the basestructure 102 in a conventional manner using, for example, a tight fit,an adhesive, rivets, or screws.

The top structure 114 can form a ring and is mounted to a top portion ofthe flexible hopper structure 122 in a conventional manner. The topstructure 114 is, in one embodiment, of rectangular shape and sized toconform to the respective unloading outlet of the hopper grain trailer.The top structure 114 is made in a conventional manner, for example, ofa suitable plastic material—such as polypropylene, polyethylene, orNylon™—or of a suitable metal—such as steel or aluminum.

Alternatively, the top structure 114 is of a different shape such as,for example, circular shape or oval shape.

Further alternatively, the flexible hopper structure 122 is realizedusing nested ring shaped hopper elements 122A, 122B, 122C made of asubstantially rigid material—such as, for example, a suitable sheetmetal or plastic material—as illustrated in FIGS. 2 f and 2 g, showingthe collapsed and extended hopper structure, respectively.

An adjusting mechanism is connected to the base structure 102 and thetop structure 114. The adjusting mechanism enables movement of the topstructure 114 from the transport position with the top structure beingdisposed in proximity to the base structure 102, as illustrated in FIG.2 a, to the loading position with at least a substantial portion of thetop structure 114 being disposed at a predetermined distance to the basestructure 102. The adjusting mechanism can enable linear movement of thetop structure 114 in a direction substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 120 of the auger housing 12 and pivotal movementaround pivot 110, as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2 a. Theadjusting mechanism may be capable of holding the top structure 114 inone of a plurality of predetermined loading positions.

The linear movement is enabled, for example, by linear guiding elements104 mounted to opposite sides of the base structure 102 in aconventional manner using, for example, welds or rivets. Linearadjusting elements 106 are linear movable mounted to the respectivelinear guiding elements 104 using, for example, screw bolts accommodatedin elongated apertures 105 disposed in the linear guiding elements 104and the linear adjusting elements 106. The linear adjusting elements 106are then affixed to the linear guiding elements 104 at a predeterminedposition using respective screw nuts or wing nuts 107.

The pivotal movement is enabled, for example, by pivotal adjustingelements 108 pivotally movable mounted to the respective linearadjusting elements 106 at pivots 110 in a conventional manner using, forexample, bolts mounted to the linear adjusting elements 106 and disposedin respective bores of the pivotal adjusting elements 108. Furthermore,one of the pivotal adjusting elements 108 forms a hand lever 112extending therefrom for enabling an operator to adjust the position ofthe top structure 114. The top structure 114 is locked in variouspredetermined positions in a conventional manner using, for example, asecond linear adjusting element 150 having the pivotal adjusting element108 pivotally movable mounted thereto at pivot 152 and being linearmovable mounted to second linear guiding element 154 using, for example,screw bolts accommodated in elongated apertures 156 disposed in thesecond linear guiding element 154 and the second linear adjustingelement 150. The second linear adjusting element 150 is then affixed tothe second linear guiding element 154 at a predetermined position usinga respective screw nut 158 having lever 160 connected thereto.

Alternatively, a ratchet type holding mechanism with a gear 134 disposedon one of the pivotal adjusting elements 108 and a pawl 130 pivotallymounted to the respective linear adjusting element 106 at pivot 132, asillustrated in FIG. 3. Pivotal movement of the pawl using lever 128releases or locks the pivotal adjusting elements 108. Optionally, thepawl is spring loaded for holding the same in a locking position. Thelinear movement is locked, for example, in a similar fashion using alinear rack instead of gear 134. Further alternatively other mechanismssuch as, for example, a bolt disposed in one of a plurality of bores,each associated with a predetermined position of the top structure 114,are employed.

Optionally, the adjusting mechanism is designed for enabling only one ofthe longitudinal movement and the pivotal movement of the top structure114, thus simplifying the adjusting mechanism but also limiting thecapability of adjusting the hopper. For example, pivotal movement isomitted in case the auger housing 12 is oriented at a fixed angle to thehorizontal, i.e. the discharge housing is disposed at a fixed heightabove ground.

Further optionally, actuators such as, for example, step motors areconnected to the adjusting mechanism for enabling remote controlledadjustment of the hopper.

The base structure 102 may have a skid 118 connected thereto forfacilitating movement of the portable auger 10 with the adjustablehopper 100 under the unloading outlet of the hopper grain trailer.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to certainembodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the artthat a number of variations and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable hopper comprising: a base structurefor being mounted to an intake of a conveying mechanism for conveyingparticulates; a flexible hopper structure, a bottom portion of theflexible hopper structure being mounted to the base structure; a topstructure mounted to a top portion of the flexible hopper structure;and, an adjusting mechanism connected to the base structure and the topstructure, the adjusting mechanism for moving the top structure from atransport position, with the top structure being disposed in proximityto the base structure, to a loading position, with at least asubstantial portion of the top structure being disposed at apredetermined distance to the base structure.
 2. An adjustable hopper asdefined in claim 1, wherein the flexible hopper structure is made of aflexible material.
 3. An adjustable hopper as defined in claim 2,comprising a holding mechanism for holding the top structure in at leastthe loading position.
 4. An adjustable hopper as defined in claim 3,wherein the holding mechanism is capable of holding the top structure inone of a plurality of predetermined loading positions.
 5. An adjustablehopper as defined in claim 2, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprisesa pivot for enabling pivotal movement of the top structure.
 6. Anadjustable hopper as defined in claim 2, wherein the adjusting mechanismcomprises a guiding structure for enabling longitudinal movement of thetop structure.
 7. An adjustable hopper as defined in claim 5, whereinthe adjusting mechanism comprises a guiding structure for enablinglongitudinal movement of the top structure.
 8. An adjustable hopper asdefined in claim 2, wherein in the transport position the top structureis oriented in a plane substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis ofthe conveying mechanism.
 9. An adjustable hopper as defined in claim 2,wherein the top structure comprises a ring surrounding the top portionof the flexible hopper structure.
 10. An adjustable hopper as defined inclaim 1, wherein the base structure is adapted for being detachablemounted to an intake of a portable grain auger.